Actuator for a gas valve

Abstract

The intention is to provide an actuator which makes it possible to change the opening time and to manually lock the supply of gas. For this purpose, the actuator consists of a housing ( 9 ) which is closed by a cover ( 10 ). A working diaphragm ( 8 ) is clamped between the housing ( 9 ) and the cover ( 10 ) and subdivides a space enclosed by the housing ( 9 ) and the cover ( 10 ) into a working pressure chamber ( 11 ) and an outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ). A lever ( 15 ) which is supported on the working diaphragm ( 8 ) and acts on a gas valve ( 2 ) via a drive plunger ( 16 ) is pivotably mounted in the housing ( 9 ). The actuator also has an adjustable pressure control valve ( 6 ) and a solenoid valve ( 7 ). When an inlet pressure line ( 12 ) is closed, the solenoid valve ( 7 ) opens a connecting channel ( 28 ) between the working pressure chamber ( 11 ) and the outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ). In contrast, in the open position, the inlet pressure line ( 12 ) is connected to the working pressure chamber ( 11 ) and to the pressure chamber ( 21 ). A throttle ( 29 ) in the inlet pressure line ( 12 ) upstream of the solenoid valve ( 7 ) makes it possible to manually set the opening cross section of the inlet pressure line ( 12 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An actuator for gas valves, comprising
 a housing ( 9 ) that is closed by a cover ( 10 ), wherein a working diaphragm ( 8 ) is clamped between the housing ( 9 ) and the cover ( 10 ) and subdivides the space enclosed by housing ( 9 ) and cover ( 10 ) into a working pressure chamber ( 11 ) on the cover side connected by an inlet pressure line ( 12 ) to the inlet side of the gas valve ( 2 ), and into an outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ) on the housing side connected by an outlet pressure line ( 14 ) to the outlet side of the gas valve ( 2 ), 
 a lever ( 15 ) which is pivotably mounted in the housing ( 9 ) and which on the one hand is supported on the working diaphragm ( 8 ), and which on the other hand acts on a closing body ( 17 ) of the gas valve ( 2 ) via a drive plunger ( 16 ), 
 a pressure control valve ( 6 ) which can be adjusted by a setpoint spring ( 23 ) and whose pressure chamber ( 21 ) is connected to the outlet pressure line ( 14 ) via a valve seat ( 20 ) that can be closed by a cover, 
 a double-acting solenoid valve ( 7 ) which closes the inlet pressure line ( 12 ) in the closed state and at the same time opens a connecting channel ( 28 ) between the working pressure chamber ( 11 ) and the outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ), whereas the inlet pressure line ( 12 ) is connected to the working pressure chamber ( 11 ) and the pressure chamber ( 21 ) when the solenoid valve is opened ( 7 ), 
 a throttle ( 29 ) which is disposed in the inlet pressure line ( 12 ) upstream of the solenoid valve ( 7 ) and which enables the opening cross section of the inlet pressure line ( 12 ) to be manually set. 
 
     
     
       2. An actuator for a gas valve ( 2 ), the actuator comprising:
 a housing ( 9 ), 
 a closing body ( 17 ) supported by the housing ( 9 ) for disposition between an inlet side and an outlet side of the gas valve ( 2 ) to open and close the gas valve ( 2 ), 
 a cover ( 10 ) connected to the housing ( 9 ), 
 a working diaphragm ( 8 ) disposed between the housing ( 9 ) and the cover ( 10 ) defining a working pressure chamber ( 11 ) between the cover ( 10 ) and the diaphragm ( 8 ) and an outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ) between the housing ( 9 ) and the diaphragm ( 8 ), 
 an inlet pressure line ( 12 ) in communication with the working pressure chamber ( 11 ) for communicating pressure between the inlet side of the gas valve ( 2 ) and the working pressure chamber ( 11 ), 
 an outlet pressure line ( 14 ) in communication with the outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ) for communicating pressure between outlet side of the gas valve ( 2 ) and the outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ), 
 a lever ( 15 ) pivotably mounted to the housing ( 9 ) and coupled to the working diaphragm ( 8 ) and the closing body ( 17 ) for transmitting movement from the working diaphragm ( 8 ) to the closing body ( 17 ), and 
 a spring ( 30 ) coupled to the closing body ( 17 ) for urging the lever ( 15 ) against the working diaphragm ( 8 ), 
 wherein the housing ( 9 ) defines a pressure chamber ( 21 ) and wherein a pressure control valve ( 6 ) is disposed in the pressure chamber ( 21 ) between the inlet pressure line ( 12 ) and the working pressure chamber ( 11 ), the pressure control valve ( 6 ) being configured to open to the outlet pressure line ( 14 ) when pressure in the pressure chamber ( 21 ) rises above a pressure preset. 
 
     
     
       3. An actuator for a gas valve ( 2 ), the actuator comprising:
 a housing ( 9 ), 
 a closing body ( 17 ) supported by the housing ( 9 ) for disposition between an inlet side and an outlet side of the gas valve ( 2 ) to open and close the gas valve ( 2 ), 
 a cover ( 10 ) connected to the housing ( 9 ), 
 a working diaphragm ( 8 ) disposed between the housing ( 9 ) and the cover ( 10 ) defining a working pressure chamber ( 11 ) between the cover ( 10 ) and the diaphragm ( 8 ) and an outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ) between the housing ( 9 ) and the diaphragm ( 8 ), 
 an inlet pressure line ( 12 ) in communication with the working pressure chamber ( 11 ) for communicating pressure between the inlet side of the gas valve ( 2 ) and the working pressure chamber ( 11 ), 
 an outlet pressure line ( 14 ) in communication with the outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ) for communicating pressure between outlet side of the gas valve ( 2 ) and the outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ), 
 a lever ( 15 ) pivotably mounted to the housing ( 9 ) and coupled to the working diaphragm ( 8 ) and the closing body ( 17 ) for transmitting movement from the working diaphragm ( 8 ) to the closing body ( 17 ), and 
 a spring ( 30 ) coupled to the closing body ( 17 ) for urging the lever ( 15 ) against the working diaphragm ( 8 ), 
 wherein the housing ( 9 ) defines a pressure chamber ( 21 ) and wherein a pressure control valve ( 6 ) is disposed in the pressure chamber ( 21 ) between the inlet pressure line ( 12 ) and the working pressure chamber ( 11 ), the pressure control valve ( 6 ) being configured to open to the outlet pressure line ( 14 ) when pressure in the pressure chamber ( 21 ) rises above a pressure preset; and 
 wherein the housing ( 9 ) defines a valve seat ( 20 ) between the pressure chamber ( 21 ) and the outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ) and wherein the pressure control valve ( 6 ) includes a ball ( 18 ) moveable to open and close the valve seat ( 20 ). 
 
     
     
       4. An actuator for a gas valve ( 2 ), the actuator comprising:
 a housing ( 9 ), 
 a closing body ( 17 ) supported by the housing ( 9 ) for disposition between an inlet side and an outlet side of the gas valve ( 2 ) to open and close the gas valve ( 2 ), 
 a cover ( 10 ) connected to the housing ( 9 ), 
 a working diaphragm ( 8 ) disposed between the housing ( 9 ) and the cover ( 10 ) defining a working pressure chamber ( 11 ) between the cover ( 10 ) and the diaphragm ( 8 ) and an outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ) between the housing ( 9 ) and the diaphragm ( 8 ), 
 an inlet pressure line ( 12 ) in communication with the working pressure chamber ( 11 ) for communicating pressure between the inlet side of the gas valve ( 2 ) and the working pressure chamber ( 11 ), 
 an outlet pressure line ( 14 ) in communication with the outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ) for communicating pressure between outlet side of the gas valve ( 2 ) and the outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ), 
 a lever ( 15 ) pivotably mounted to the housing ( 9 ) and coupled to the working diaphragm ( 8 ) and the closing body ( 17 ) for transmitting movement from the working diaphragm ( 8 ) to the closing body ( 17 ), and 
 a spring ( 30 ) coupled to the closing body ( 17 ) for urging the lever ( 15 ) against the working diaphragm ( 8 ), 
 wherein the housing ( 9 ) defines a pressure chamber ( 21 ) and wherein a pressure control valve ( 6 ) is disposed in the pressure chamber ( 21 ) between the inlet pressure line ( 12 ) and the working pressure chamber ( 11 ), the pressure control valve ( 6 ) being configured to open to the outlet pressure line ( 14 ) when pressure in the pressure chamber ( 21 ) rises above a pressure preset; 
 wherein the housing ( 9 ) defines a valve seat ( 20 ) between the pressure chamber ( 21 ) and the outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ) and wherein the pressure control valve ( 6 ) includes a ball ( 18 ) moveable to open and close the valve seat ( 20 ), 
 wherein the pressure control valve ( 6 ) includes a cover and a setpoint spring ( 23 ) disposed between the cover and the ball ( 18 ) for urging the ball ( 18 ) into contact with the valve seat ( 20 ). 
 
     
     
       5. An actuator for a gas valve ( 2 ), the actuator comprising:
 a housing ( 9 ), 
 a closing body ( 17 ) supported by the housing ( 9 ) for disposition between an inlet side and an outlet side of the gas valve ( 2 ) to open and close the gas valve ( 2 ), 
 a cover ( 10 ) connected to the housing ( 9 ), 
 a working diaphragm ( 8 ) disposed between the housing ( 9 ) and the cover ( 10 ) defining a working pressure chamber ( 11 ) between the cover ( 10 ) and the diaphragm ( 8 ) and an outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ) between the housing ( 9 ) and the diaphragm ( 8 ), 
 an inlet pressure line ( 12 ) in communication with the working pressure chamber ( 11 ) for communicating pressure between the inlet side of the gas valve ( 2 ) and the working pressure chamber ( 11 ), 
 an outlet pressure line ( 14 ) in communication with the outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ) for communicating pressure between outlet side of the gas valve ( 2 ) and the outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ), 
 a lever ( 15 ) pivotably mounted to the housing ( 9 ) and coupled to the working diaphragm ( 8 ) and the closing body ( 17 ) for transmitting movement from the working diaphragm ( 8 ) to the closing body ( 17 ), and 
 a spring ( 30 ) coupled to the closing body ( 17 ) for urging the lever ( 15 ) against the working diaphragm ( 8 ), 
 wherein the housing ( 9 ) defines a pressure chamber ( 21 ) and wherein a pressure control valve ( 6 ) is disposed in the pressure chamber ( 21 ) between the inlet pressure line ( 12 ) and the working pressure chamber ( 11 ), the pressure control valve ( 6 ) being configured to open to the outlet pressure line ( 14 ) when pressure in the pressure chamber ( 21 ) rises above a pressure preset; 
 
       wherein the housing ( 9 ) defines a valve seat ( 20 ) between the pressure chamber ( 21 ) and the outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ) and wherein the pressure control valve ( 6 ) includes a ball ( 18 ) moveable to open and close the valve seat ( 20 ), and
 wherein the pressure control valve ( 6 ) includes a diaphragm ( 19 ) that supports the ball ( 18 ). 
 
     
     
       6. The actuator as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a solenoid valve ( 7 ) in communication with the working pressure chamber ( 11 ), the inlet pressure line ( 12 ) and the outlet chamber ( 13 ), wherein the solenoid valve ( 7 ) is movable to alternately provide communication between the working pressure chamber ( 11 ) and the inlet pressure line ( 12 ) or between the working pressure chamber ( 11 ) and the outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ). 
     
     
       7. The actuator as set forth in  claim 6  further comprising a throttle ( 29 ) extending into the inlet pressure line ( 12 ) upstream of the solenoid valve ( 7 ). 
     
     
       8. The actuator as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a throttle ( 29 ) extending into the inlet pressure line ( 12 ). 
     
     
       9. The actuator as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the housing ( 9 ) defines a valve seat ( 20 ) between the pressure chamber ( 21 ) and the outlet pressure chamber ( 13 ) and wherein the pressure control valve ( 6 ) includes a ball ( 18 ) moveable to open and close the valve seat ( 20 ). 
     
     
       10. The actuator as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the pressure control valve ( 6 ) includes a cover and a setpoint spring ( 23 ) disposed between the cover and the ball ( 18 ) for urging the ball ( 18 ) into contact with the valve seat ( 20 ). 
     
     
       11. The actuator as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the pressure control valve ( 6 ) includes a diaphragm ( 19 ) that supports the ball ( 18 ).